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Subscribe to RSSAfter being held captive for five days in Syria, NBC's Richard Engel and his team recount being ambushed, blindfolded and traumatized before being freed at a checkpoint.
Updated at 8:15 a.m. ET: NBC News’ Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and members of his network production team were freed from captors in Syria after a firefight at a checkpoint on Monday, five days after they were taken prisoner, NBC News said early Tuesday.
“After being kidnapped and held for five days inside Syria by an unknown group, NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel and his production crew members have been freed unharmed. We are pleased to report they are safely out of the country,” the network said in a statement.
“It is good to be here,” Engel said during a live appearance on TODAY from Turkey. “I’m very happy that we’re able to do this live shot this morning.”
Engel said that they were traveling with Syrian rebels when a group of about 15 gunmen “jumped out of the trees and bushes” and captured them.
'Psychological torture'
He said the gunmen executed one of the rebels “on the spot,” and later during their captivity they were subjected to mock executions while blindfolded and bound.
"We weren't physically beaten or tortured. It was a lot of psychological torture, threats of being killed," Engel said.
"They made us choose which one of us would be shot first and when we refused there were mock shootings. They pretended to shoot Ghazi [Balkiz, an NBC producer] several times,” Engel said.
Balkiz said that they had “worked with each other very well… we kept each other’s spirits up” during their ordeal. Cameraman John Kooistra said he had “made good with my maker” and had been “prepared to die many times.”
Engel said their captors “were talking openly about their loyalty to the government” of Syrian President Bashar Assad.
He said he had a “very good idea” about who they were -- members of the “shabiha” militia, loyal to Assad, trained by the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and allied with Lebanon-based group Hezbollah.
Engel said their captors’ plan was to use them to win the freedom of people held by the rebels.
“They captured us in order to carry out this exchange,” he said.
NBC News file
Richard Engel at the end of a reporting trip in Syria in July of this year.
Engel, 39, and his team disappeared shortly after crossing into northwest Syria from Turkey on Thursday. The network had not been able to contact them until learning that they had been freed on Monday.
The network said there was no claim of responsibility, no contact with the captors and no request for ransom during the time the crew was missing.
After entering Syria, Engel and his team were abducted, tossed into the back of a truck before being transported to an unknown location believed to be near the small town of Ma’arrat Misrin. During their captivity, they were blindfolded and bound, but otherwise not physically harmed, the network said.
Early Monday evening local time, the prisoners were being moved to a new location in a vehicle when their captors ran into a checkpoint manned by members of the Ahrar al-Sham brigade, a Syrian rebel group. There was a confrontation and a firefight ensued. Two of the captors were killed, while an unknown number of others escaped, the network said.
The NBC News crew was unharmed in the incident. They remained in Syria until Tuesday morning when they made their way to the border and re-entered Turkey, the network said. They were to be evaluated and debriefed, but had communicated that everyone was in good health.
NBC News said it “expressed its gratitude to those who worked to gather information and secure the release of our colleagues.”
Engel is widely regarded as one of America’s leading foreign correspondents for his coverage of wars, revolutions and political transitions around the world over the last 15 years. Most recently, he was recognized for his outstanding reporting on the 2011 revolution in Egypt, the conflict in Libya and unrest throughout the Arab world.
One of the only Western journalists to cover the entire war in Iraq , Engel was named chief foreign correspondent of NBC News in April 2008. He joined the network in May 2003.
The Syrian civil war began in March 2011, when demonstrators took to the streets to show support for the so-called Arab Spring uprisings sweeping across the Middle East and north Africa and to demand the resignation of Assad of the ruling Ba’ath Party. The following month, Assad deployed the Syrian army to quell the uprising, ordering troops to open fire on demonstrators. But despite the harsh crackdown, Assad’s troops and militias loyal to the government were unable to quell what soon became an armed uprising.
In the intervening months, the security situation in the country has continued to deteriorate amid increasingly fierce fighting between Syrian troops and a loose confederation of outgunned but increasingly emboldened rebel forces. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimated in November that more than 40,000 people had died in the fighting.
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Leave a Comment:
"Engel is widely regarded as one of America’s leading foreign correspondents for his coverage of wars, revolutions and political transitions around the world over the last 15 years."
Maybe so, but this whole episode makes one question whether these people have any idea what they are getting themselves into. Maybe he should take a break and reevaluate the risk/reward ratio inherent in taking a field trip into an ongoing civil war.
As a member of the broadcasting community I am thankful Richard Engel is free and unharmed. I am thankful that one of the worlds most courageous storytellers is safe from harm.
Wow, Richard Engel keeps life interesting...maybe its time though for a little R&R.
The entire war corresponding thing reminds me again and again of Aldus Huxley's "Brave New world".
Stupid is as stupid does. Glad to hear they're OK, but perhaps next time they'll think twice about sneaking into a hostile country. The news sometimes isn't worth the risk. Everyone knows what's going on there now, so there's no "uncovering" of anything.
Like your stupid comment.
These are professional journalists, risking their lives going into war zones so we'll know what's going on in the world. You might not care or understand, but smarter people do.
Maybe when you grow up you'll realize there are more important things than your Easy-Bake oven and cartoons.
Most excellent news this morning. Glad they are safe. Richard, you are such a wonderful reporter but maybe you could stay out of harm's way for a bit. ;)
Many things that happen in the military are blacked out. You just never hear of them, even when a blackout no longer serves any purpose
As one of my favorite journalist, when I saw his name very briefly "trending" yesterday and read where he had not been heard from since last Thursday (and that NBC had asked for a media blackout), I had a sad feeling and a broken heart. After all that went on this weekend, to have thoughts that Richard Engel might have befallen a horrible fate, I was thinking the entire world is just "the pits" (can't really post the words I want!!)
I am so glad to hear he is ok and safe. Keep up the good work, Richard!! Your reporting is invaluable (and I bet your family wants you home NOW!!) :-)
First, yes I glad the the whole team out and doing well.
Secondly, Congradulations on becoming a peice of Propaganda for the Assad Regime. Cruel Dictator shows heart by releasing an NBC News Team.
The piece did not say Engle was captured by Assad forces.
Anyone that believes this BS is really, really brainwashed, and hopeless!
Did any of you bother to see how these guys were laughing about the whole thing? DUH!
You people need to ask yourself why in the hell would militia "loyal to the governmnet" abduct American reporters?
Are you people actually that STUPID to believe this BS? No wonder why this country is going downhill so fast!
How many of you fools out there know the "Free Syrian Army" is made up of al-queda? DUH! How many of you know that the FSA is murdering men, women, and children (many Christians)?
The US needs to stay out of israels wars PERIOD!
Yeah. We have people like you. Psycho psychics.
One more thing,
These ACTORS stated they were going to be traded for some Iranians! DUH! Got to keep that Iran invasion war fever going!
WAKE THE F UP PEOPLE!
Are you always this drunk this early?
Or are you just stupid?
-god
Nice try! Your "comments" just prove my point! Thank you!
Let me guess though, a "tribe" member?
Why do you retards always say that when you don't HAVE a point?
You're welcome!
-god
My point is "people" like you will believe ANYTHING that comes out of the CONTROLLED MEDIA!
I guess your real happy they announced that easy bake ovens would come in male colors too!
@US Army Vet?, What Free Syrian Army are you talking about? A Vet, huh. The MB is not bat unto themselves bot if they are going to win they have to make a few strange bed fellows. Yes they are connected with a couple Extreme type groups that are very small. They have rejected any assistance from Al Qaeda. I don't think you are much of a Vet if at all. As a soldier, be it for 3 trs or 50 yrs it is your responsability to everything about your Enamy and your Alliances. Since you seam to be running on made up stuff and lies I can only believe that your a fake.
And retards like you will believe anything that comes out of their alcoholic fantasies.
6dogs
Do you think I am new to this game you SHILLS play?
Nice try though! I would suggest you stop listening to the CONTROLLED MEDIA and learn the real facts!
-god
Sorry to dissapoint your BS "theory", but I don't drink! Unlike people like you, I prefer to hear more than just the CONTROLLED STORY from the CONTROLLED MEDIA! Try it sometime you might actually learn something real for once in your life!
Let me also guess, you still believe that 19 of dem der mooslims, 7 of which have been confirmed as still alive today, and one that died before, did 9/11? WTC Building 7 came down by fire also huh? DUH!
Yo - mr.4558908 (I ain't gonna address you by your misnomer because I have more time in the prop blast than you have in the chow line), You asked 2 questions that were prefaced with the phrase "how many of you fools know...yadda yadda..." We wouldn't know jack if we didn't have journalists with boots on the ground. Richard Engel reported live from the Korengal in afghanistan as air support pulled a friendly-fire-FUBAR on the 101st. He reports it as it is. He has more credibility than the population of NYC, & DC. (and I hope you don't like it) Rangers (& journalists) lead the way - ALL THE WAY.
I have followed this guy for many years and cannot understand where people get the idea that he is a good unbiased reporter. He has a special agenda and is a mouth piece for any cause we are supporting. I think this whole episode was fabricated for better ratings and such. We do not have unbiased journalists any more that we had 30 years ago or so. You can't lie your way out of credibility. People can smell you out and this guy smells like a weasel.
It just smells that way because you have your head up your ass.
Well shoot. I am glad everyone is ok.
They better not have touched a single hair on his beautiful head.
I am very happy they are free and safe. I am a big Engel fan.
I have a question NBC, why is it that when the safety of one of your own is a stake, you don't leak a word of his captivity, but anyone else is fair game and the public 'has a right to know'?
I find this very interesting...at the end of the interview she states "this was kept quiet because Richard is a very high profile reporter," WHAT? "High Profile" reporters give up the Military's location EVERY day. This doesn't seem right NBC News. Lets stop reporting from exact locations and start protecting our military if we are going to start protecting reporters. This just seems odd to me!!
freedom?freedom of the press?george carlin may have been on to something there about freedom.
The Great George Carlin was a comedian, an entertainer and used lifes situations to get laughs, he wasn't standing up for a cause nor was he trying to start any kind of a movement when he performed. Just saying and not wanting to offend.
My oh my. NBC/the media doesn't miss a beat when it comes to exploiting others for their own news gain, even at the risk of others well being and lives... But one of their own is in trouble and they put the safety of their news people first. Too bad they lack the integrity and honor required to think of the rest of us.
Thank you Mr Engel for putting yourself at risk, so we can stay informed about the world. Maybe you could take a break, just for a little while, and teach some of these wannabe journalists.
Richard, I love what you do for us, but it scares the heck out of me. Please lower your risk-taking level.
I'm very grateful those men are alive and well. However I am disgusted with the news media who can blackout and keep secrets when it's one of their own in peril but have no problem spewing speculation, rumor, and whatever when it is anyone else. Shame on the whole system.
You have to be a special kind of person to do the job Richard Engel does. It must be something he really likes to do and is probably paid well to do it. That said, if I were him I'd call it a day to the overseas reporting and start covering little league baseball or something.....
So glad to hear that the team is safe. Please take a few days off to recuperate!
The news certainly kept a lid on that abduction.
Glad they are are all safe and back home. Due we really feel sorry for them? They were there on their own free will and knew the dangers. Do we need to risk more SEALS, etc. to rescue them?
Richard Engel is NBC News best asset - I would put him before Brian Williams! Engel's reporting and his access to areas of unrest is unequaled on any other network. I'm surprised he hasn't been captured prior to this. Thank goodness he escaped unharmed. Give the guy a few days off for the holidays for god's sake, and give him an anchor job before you do lose him.
I agree. How much does one have to do before being killed and not with the news!